The Sideload: A 9to5Google Podcast The Sideload: A 9to5Google Podcast

The Highs and Lows of Pixel at 10 with Ben Schoon and Joe Maring

Oct 13, 2026 · 1h 15m

Summary

Host Will Saddleberg joins Ben Schoen and Joe Maring for a belated roundtable celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Pixel line. The trio discusses their definitive Pixel models, with Schoen favoring the Pixel 4 for its unique identity and Maring citing the Pixel 8 Pro’s stability. They also debate favorite software features like Face Unlock and Material Design, while reflecting on discontinued elements such as the Active Edge squeeze gesture and unlimited photo backup. The conversation concludes with a retrospective on the Pixel tablet’s mixed reception and a quiz game involving cropped i…

Topics discussed

Intro: Pixel 10th Anniversary Roundtable Sponsor: NordVPN First Pixel phones and bezel color preferences Definitive Pixel: Pixel 8 Pro and Face Unlock Definitive Pixel: Pixel 10 and Pixel 4 design Pixel 4's unique identity and design legacy Favorite Pixel features: Software polish and Face Unlock AI features, Gemini, and the 'nice to have' debate Pixel software vs Samsung One UI and Apple Dead features: Squeeze gesture and back tap Dead features: Thermometer, dual selfie, Active Edge Pixel Studio and the value of old Pixels Google TV Streamer pricing and computing costs Pixel Tablet retrospective and HomeView Google's vision for foldables and Stadia AI race: Google Gemini vs Meta Nest Hub Max review and smart display UX Smart home hardware stagnation and Apple competition Future Pixel hardware: Batteries, foldables, and vision Looking ahead: Higher standards for next 10 years Game: Identify the Pixel phone Outro: Social media links and 9to5Google Pro
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